How the world's first motel opened in 1925 was a luxury spot loved by celebrities like Marilyn Monroe

Not too bad! How the world's first motel opened in 1925 was a luxury spot loved by celebrities - including Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio who dined at the restaurant on their honeymoonThe Milestone Mo-tel was designed by Californian architect Arthur S. Heineman He opened in 1925 and seats up to 160 people Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio booked it for their honeymoon lunch
By Sadie Whitelocks for Dailymail.com
Updated: 8:16 p.m. BST, 18 Jun 2023

While motels are now considered to be budget places where motorists can rest for the night, the original motel was quite the opposite with movie stars even coming in for a pit stop.
Designed by Californian architect Arthur S. Heineman at a cost of $80,000, the Milestone Mo-tel - a term Heineman coined by combining the words "motor hotel" - was conveniently located along the 101 freeway just north of downtown San Luis Obispo. The highly anticipated place opened its doors to paying customers on December 12, 1925.
Vintage black and white photos and postcards from the era revealing the identity of the motel are the elegant exteriors, inspired by a Spanish mission, with whitewashed walls, manicured gardens and a bell tower.
According to the , the motel became a California hotspot with Marilyn Monroe and her then-husband Joe DiMaggio booking the accompanying steakhouse for their honeymoon lunch in 1954 and Ronald Reagan held campaign rallies there.

Travel Jun 19, 2023 0 47 Add to Reading List

How the world's first motel opened in 1925 was a luxury spot loved by celebrities like Marilyn Monroe

Not too bad! How the world's first motel opened in 1925 was a luxury spot loved by celebrities - including Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio who dined at the restaurant on their honeymoonThe Milestone Mo-tel was designed by Californian architect Arthur S. Heineman He opened in 1925 and seats up to 160 people Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio booked it for their honeymoon lunch

By Sadie Whitelocks for Dailymail.com

Updated: 8:16 p.m. BST, 18 Jun 2023

While motels are now considered to be budget places where motorists can rest for the night, the original motel was quite the opposite with movie stars even coming in for a pit stop.

Designed by Californian architect Arthur S. Heineman at a cost of $80,000, the Milestone Mo-tel - a term Heineman coined by combining the words "motor hotel" - was conveniently located along the 101 freeway just north of downtown San Luis Obispo. The highly anticipated place opened its doors to paying customers on December 12, 1925.

Vintage black and white photos and postcards from the era revealing the identity of the motel are the elegant exteriors, inspired by a Spanish mission, with whitewashed walls, manicured gardens and a bell tower.

According to the , the motel became a California hotspot with Marilyn Monroe and her then-husband Joe DiMaggio booking the accompanying steakhouse for their honeymoon lunch in 1954 and Ronald Reagan held campaign rallies there.